By Asma’u Ahmad
The Federal Government has commended the intervention of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in the areas reproductive health, family planning, population and development as well as humanitarian services.
Director of the International Co-operation Department, Federal Ministry of Budget and National Planning, Mr. Samuel Eloho, said this at the opening of a two-day meeting of the National Task Force Committee, and Partners in Population and Development (PPD) on South-South Cooperation in Abuja.
Mr. Eloho said Nigeria would “continue to be appreciative of the support with the belief that UNFPA would not relent in her efforts’’.
“It is with pleasure that I applaud the dedication of the National Task Force Committee. The success of this committee is attributable to the commitment of various stakeholders gathered here today.
“I urge us to remain committed in carrying out our oversight functions to ensure that common goals of the PPD are realised for good to our dear nation,” he said.
The director said that the essence of the meeting was to discuss the implementation of the UNFPA assisted-programmes in various ministries and organisations.
He said that the meeting would ascertain progress made in the implementation of programmes, challenges encountered and proffer the way forward.
“It is also a forum for the implementing partners, the UNFPA and the ministry that coordinates all donor activities to jointly reflect on the implementation of trajectory achievement.
“It will discuss challenges and suggest ways forward for achieving a robust implementation and value for money,” he said.
In his remarks, the UNFPA Programme Analyst on Demography and Statistics, Mr. Dasogot Dashe urged the participants to focus on ageing population to reap the demographic dividends.
“If Nigeria can manage its ageing population very well, Nigeria will harness the second demographic dividends and the first is for the youth. If you invest in the youth now, they will be empowered to work, train their own children so that they will not be burden to the government in their old age,’’ he said.
Mr. Dashe, however, commended the Ministry of Budget and National Planning for coordinating the activities of the Task Force and assured of UNFPA’s support in achieving demographic dividends.
Newsmen also report that the meeting was attended by more than 49 MDAs and CSOs involved in the PPD.
They include the host ministry of National Planning; Ministries of Finance, Education, Health, Agriculture, FCT and Women Affairs.
Other stakeholders were the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, NAN and National Population Commission.
